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Dashboard Definitions

Dashboard Definitions

Ridership Dashboard Definitions

Definitions and terms are based on UTA Transit Glossary and NTD website and are used on the Utah Transit Authority Ridership Dashboard. Some service names may differ from typical public terminology.

Fixed Route Bus - UTA RAPID (UVX, OGX)
UTA Definition:
Bus service that is frequent (15 minutes or better), has a moderate level of investment in speed and reliability improvements, and has a moderate distance between stations.

Current routes: 830X (UVX) and 603X (OGX). These may publicly be referred to as bus rapid transit.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Buses (MB)
Buses (MB) Rubber-tired passenger vehicles powered by diesel, gasoline, battery or alternative fuel engines contained within the vehicle. Vehicles in this category do not include school buses or cutaways.

Data Compilation Process:
Passenger boardings come from the Automatic Passenger Counter equipped buses. Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT).Buses are assigned by the dispatch system to scheduled blocks of work on a daily basis. The average of each trip sampled from each route, during the month, are then totaled the number of times that each trip was operated during the month. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source:
Automatic Passenger Counter (APC)

Fixed Route Bus - Express
UTA Definition:
Express Bus is a premium service that provides direct routing, faster travel time and inter-county travel. These routes typically travel on freeways and provide transit connection between different cities with limited stops. A, Express Bus route skips a large area between two destinations.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Commuter Bus (CB)
Local fixed-route bus transportation primarily connecting outlying areas with a central city. Characterized by a motorcoach (aka over-the-road bus), multiple trip tickets, multiple stops in outlying areas, limited stops in the central city, and at least five miles of closed-door service.

Data Compilation Process:
Passenger boardings come from the Automatic Passenger Counter equipped buses. Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT).Buses are assigned by the dispatch system to scheduled blocks of work on a daily basis. The average of each trip sampled from each route, during the month, are then totaled the number of times that each trip was operated during the month. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source:
Automatic Passenger Counter (APC)

Fixed Route Bus - Regular
UTA Definition:
A transit mode using rubber-tired passenger vehicles operating on fixed routes and schedules over roadways.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Buses (MB)
Rubber-tired passenger vehicles powered by diesel, gasoline, battery or alternative fuel engines contained within the vehicle. Vehicles in this category do not include school buses or cutaways.

Data Compilation Process:
Passenger boardings come from the Automatic Passenger Counter equipped buses. Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT). Buses are assigned by the dispatch system to scheduled blocks of work on a daily basis. The average of each trip sampled from each route, during the month, are then totaled the number of times that each trip was operated during the month. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source:
Automatic Passenger Counter (APC)

Fixed Route Bus - Ski
UTA Definition:
Seasonal service to ski resorts along the Wasatch Front.

Ski is an Express Bus premium service that provides direct routing, faster travel time and inter-county travel. These routes typically travel on freeways and provide transit connection between different cities with limited stops.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Commuter Bus (CB)
Local fixed-route bus transportation primarily connecting outlying areas with a central city. Characterized by a motorcoach (aka over-the-road bus), multiple trip tickets, multiple stops in outlying areas, limited stops in the central city, and at least five miles of closed-door service.

Data Compilation Process:
Passenger boardings come from the Automatic Passenger Counter equipped buses. Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT). Buses are assigned by the dispatch system to scheduled blocks of work on a daily basis. The average of each trip sampled from each route, during the month, are then totaled the number of times that each trip was operated during the month. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source:
Automatic Passenger Counter (APC)

Commuter Rail
UTA Definition:
A regional railroad passenger service that travels between a central city, its suburbs, and/or another central city. It may be either locomotive-hauled or self-propelled and is characterized by multi-trip tickets, specific station-to-station fares, railroad employment practices, and usually only one or two stations in the central business district. UTA’s commuter rail system is called FrontRunner.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Commuter Rail (CR):
An electric or diesel propelled railway for urban passenger train service consisting of local travel which operates between a central city and outlying areas. Service must be operated on a regular basis by or under contract with a transit operator for the purpose of transporting passengers within urbanized areas (UZAs), or between urbanized areas and outlying areas. Commuter rail is generally characterized by multi-trip tickets, specific station-to-station fares, railroad employment practices, relatively long distance between stops, and only 1-2 stations in the central business district.

Data Compilation Process:
Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT). 100% of vehicles are equipped with APC’s. Trips can be missed because of service interruptions or equipment failure. Missing trips are factored by taking the average of boarding’s from the car position in the consist, at each stop from the monthly boarding’s for that specific trip that is missing. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source:
Automatic Passenger Counter (APC)

Light Rail
UTA Definition:
A type of electric rail transit system that uses lighter cars compared to heavy rail cars on a fixed guide way. Light rail may be on exclusive or shared right-of-way and have high or low platforms with single or multi-car trains. UTA's light rail system is called TRAX.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Light Rail (LR):
A transit mode that typically is an electric railway with a light volume traffic capacity compared to heavy rail (HR). It is characterized by:

  • Passenger rail cars operating singly (or in short, usually two car, trains) on fixed rails in shared or exclusive right-of-way (ROW);
  • Low or high platform loading; and
  • Vehicle power drawn from an overhead electric line via a trolley or a pantograph.

Data Compilation Process:
Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT). 100% of vehicles are equipped with APC’s. Trips can be missed because of service interruptions or equipment failure. Missing trips are factored by taking the average of the sampled trips from the month. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source:
Automatic Passenger Counter (APC)

Paratransit
UTA Definition:
Transportation service required by the Americans with Disabilities act (ADA) for individuals who are unable to use fixed-route transportation in some or all instances. Paratransit is a complementary service, meaning it must operate alongside non-commuter routes during the same hours for no more than 2x the fixed route fare. UTA Paratransit offers origin-to-destination service for eligible riders within a 3/4 mile buffer of applicable fixed routes or TRAX stations.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Demand Response (DR): A transit mode comprised of passenger cars, vans or small buses operating in response to calls from passengers or their agents to the transit operator, who then dispatches a vehicle to pick up the passengers and transport them to their destinations. A demand response (DR) operation is characterized by the following:
a) The vehicles do not operate over a fixed route or on a fixed schedule except, perhaps, on a temporary basis to satisfy a special need
b) Typically, the vehicle may be dispatched to pick up several passengers at different pick-up points before taking them to their respective destinations and may even be interrupted en route to these destinations to pick up other passengers. The following types of operations fall under the above definitions provided they are not on a scheduled fixed route basis:

  • Many origins - many destinations
  • Many origins - one destination
  • One origin - many destinations, and
  • One origin - one destination.

Data Compilation Process:
Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT). A 100% count for Paratransit users. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source: Trapeze PASS

Route Deviation
UTA Definition:
A type of bus service where vehicles can deviate up to 3/4 miles from a route upon request. Deviations can be scheduled by any rider in advance or when boarding, although no more than two deviations can be performed per trip. Although flex service primarily operates along fixed routes, it is classified as demand responsive by FTA and therefore does not carry the same obligation for complementary paratransit. UTA’s route deviation service is called Flex Route.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Route Deviation:
A type of transit service that operates as conventional fixed route bus (MB) service along a fixed alignment or path with scheduled time points at each terminal point and key intermediate locations. Route deviation service is different than conventional fixed route bus (MB) service in that the bus (MB) may deviate from the route alignment to serve destinations within a prescribed distance (e.g., ¾ mile) of the route. Following an off route deviation, the bus must return to the point on the route it left. Passengers may use the service in two ways:

  • If they want to be taken off route as part of a service deviation, they must tell the bus operator when boarding, or
  • If they want to be picked up at an off route location, they must call the transit system and request a pickup, and the dispatcher notifies the bus operator.

Data Compilation Process:
Passenger boardings come from the Automatic Passenger Counter equipped buses. Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT). Buses are assigned by the dispatch system to scheduled blocks of work on a daily basis. The average of each trip sampled from each route, during the month, are then totaled the number of times that each trip was operated during the month. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source:
Automatic Passenger Counter (APC)

Streetcar
UTA Definition:
Streetcar vehicles cover shorter distances, operate at slower speeds, and traverse busier mid-town areas with more frequent, localized stops. They are a type of light rail service, which uses lighter cars compared to heavy rail cars on a fixed guide way. Light rail may be on exclusive or shared right-of-way, and have high or low platforms, with single or multi-car trains. UTA’s streetcar is called the S-Line.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Light Rail (LR): A transit mode that typically is an electric railway with a light volume traffic capacity compared to heavy rail (HR). It is characterized by:

  • Passenger rail cars operating singly (or in short, usually two car, trains) on fixed rails in shared or exclusive right-of-way (ROW);
  • Low or high platform loading; and
  • Vehicle power drawn from an overhead electric line via a trolley or a pantograph.

Data Compilation Process:
Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT). 100% of vehicles are equipped with APC’s. Trips can be missed because of service interruptions or equipment failure. Missing trips are factored by taking the average of the sampled trips from the month. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source:
Automatic Passenger Counter (APC)

Systemwide
UTA Definition:
Includes all ridership of UTA

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
NA

Data Compilation Process:
Compiled from ridership from all UTA services.

Data Source:
Varies

Vanpool
UTA Definition:
The nonprofit mode of prearranged commuter transportation of a relatively fixed group of five to 15 persons, including the driver, between home and work, or other destinations near home and work, in a vehicle (typically a large van or minivan) that is owned by UTA and leased to participants.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Vanpool (VP):
A transit mode comprised of vans, small buses and other vehicles operating as a ride sharing arrangement, providing transportation to a group of individuals traveling directly between their homes and a regular destination within the same geographical area. The vehicles shall have a minimum seating capacity of seven persons, including the driver. For inclusion in the NTD, it is considered mass transit service if it meets the requirements for public mass transportation and is publicly sponsored.

Public mass transportation for vanpool programs must:

     
  • Be open to the public and that any vans that are restricted a priori to particular employers in the public ride-matching service of the vanpool are excluded from the NTD report;
  • Be actively engaged in advertising the vanpool service to the public and in matching interested members of the public to vans with available seats;
  • Whether operated by a public or private entity, be operated in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and implementing regulations at 49 CFR 37.31; and
  • Have a record-keeping system in place to meet all NTD Reporting Requirements, consistent with other modes, including collecting and reporting full-allocated operating and capital costs for the service.

Publicly sponsored service is:

  • Directly-operated by a public entity;
  • Operated by a public entity via a contract for purchased transportation service with a private provider; or
  • Operated by a private entity as a grant recipient or subrecipient from a public entity; or
  • Operated by an independent private entity with approval from a public entity that certifies that the vanpool program is helping meet the overall transportation needs of the local urbanized area

Data Compilation Process:
Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT). A 100% count for VanPool users through RidePro internet self reporting system. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source:
Trapeze RidePRO

Mobility Management
UTA Definition:
Transportation service required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for individuals with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-route transportation in some or all instances. Paratransit is a complementary service, meaning it must operate alongside non-commuter routes during the same hours for no more than 2x the fixed route fare. UTA Paratransit offers curb-to-curb service for eligible riders within a 3/4 mile buffer of applicable fixed routes.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Demand Response (DR)
A transit mode comprised of passenger cars, vans or small buses operating in response to calls from passengers or their agents to the transit operator, who then dispatches a vehicle to pick up the passengers and transport them to their destinations. A demand response (DR) operation is characterized by the following:
a) The vehicles do not operate over a fixed route or on a fixed schedule except, perhaps, on a temporary basis to satisfy a special need, and
b) Typically, the vehicle may be dispatched to pick up several passengers at different pick-up points before taking them to their respective destinations and may even be interrupted en route to these destinations to pick up other passengers. The following types of operations fall under the above definitions provided they are not on a scheduled fixed route basis:

  • Many origins - many destinations
  • Many origins - one destination
  • One origin - many destinations, and
  • One origin - one destination.

Data Compilation Process:
Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles, regardless of how many vehicles they use to reach their destination (also called Unlinked Passenger Trips or UPT). A 100% count for Paratransit users. Monthly weekday averages come by dividing the number of boardings by the number of weekdays in that month.

Data Source:
Trapeze PASS

UTA On Demand (VIA Microtransit)
UTA Definition:
A transit service providing a highly flexible routing and/or highly flexible scheduling of minibus vehicles shared with other passengers. On-demand public transit service offers shared rides to pick-up and drop-off points within a designated service area. Rides can be requested via a mobile app or by calling a local number.

UTA’s microtransit partner is Via Transportation. The service is called UTA On Demand.

Relevant Reference from National Transit Database (NTD) Glossary:
Purchased Transportation — Transportation Network Company (TN) is a special type of service provided by a transportation network company on behalf of a public transportation agency using nondedicated vehicles. The service is dispatched by the transportation network company using a mobile application.

Data Compilation Process:

  • Via uses trip "requests" as the basis for each ride and counts the total number of passengers on each request separately (so a single booking for you with two friends would count as 3 passengers).
  • Once made, a request can receive several outcomes:
    • "Completed" (ride was completed, with the number of rides equal to the number of passengers on the same booking)
    • "Not Accepted" trip (customer sees the proposal with ETA and fare, and decides not to book the trip)
    • "Cancelled" trip (customer books a ride proposal, then decides after booking to cancel that booking)
    • "No-Show" trip (customer books the trip, does not cancel, but does not show up for the trip)
    • Error (the most common types are "Seat Unavailable," where there is no van available within the algorithm parameters set that are able to serve the number of passengers indicated on the booking request between the specified origin and destination; and "Out of Service Hours" in which the customer makes the request outside service hours and therefore gets an error)
  • Only Completed trips count on a ride count.



Data Source:
UTA On Demand (VIA) Ride APP

Service Type
Most fixed routes operate with three service types: one for weekdays (WKD), one for Saturday (SAT), and one for Sunday (SUN).
WKD: Weekday level of service

SAT/SUN: Saturday or Sunday level of service
A Saturday or Sunday schedule may be used for Holidays, regardless of the actual day of the week. For example, President’s Day may run a Saturday level of service. In addition, each transit mode may run different levels of service on a holiday. For example, TRAX may run a Saturday level of service on President’s Day, while Bus runs a Sunday level of service on President’s Day.

 

Bus Specials

Bus trips that are not scheduled (e.g. bus bridges, special events, State of Good Repair events, and other special requests). Passengers on Special Bus Trips are included in total passenger counts for the month, but are not included in Average monthly ridership.

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